Love in 1860 (An Easy English Story): Part 7
April 19, 1861
Dear reader,
I am writing this on the train. David, Elizabeth, and I are going to New York.
When we got to the train station, the station worker stopped me. “What do you think you’re doing? Blacks sit in the back car.”
Before I could speak, Elizabeth tapped the man on the shoulder. She was not looking at him. “I need her with me. I can’t see, so I need her to help me move around,” Elizabeth lied. She held my wrist.
The man frowned and looked at me. “Don’t touch anything. And don’t look at me.”
I wanted to say, “You’re ugly, so I am happy not to look at you” but David quickly led us inside the train.
I must sit on the floor of the train next to Elizabeth. I cannot sit on a seat.
A woman walked by and said, “Look at this smart little black girl. She is writing all by herself!” She talked to me like I was a baby. Then she looked at Elizabeth. “It is too bad. A slave should work in the field.”
My face turned red. Elizabeth did not say anything. She just stared at the seat in front of her. I knew I should not say anything. I should not even look at the woman.
The woman started walking down the aisle. Her long blue skirt hit my face.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. But we will be in New York in about seven hours. Then I can scream.
David was sitting in front of me and Elizabeth. He dropped a small piece of paper behind his seat. I opened it.
Inside was a small heart.
I hope things will be better in New York.
Yours truly,
Grace Miller